Shedding Problems
Problem Shedding
A problem shed is when your snake, instead of working its whole skin off in a single session, only bits and pieces come off and some skin remains on the snakes body. A normal shed should be completed within at most a couple of hours, whereas a problem shed goes on for days or even weeks without being completed. A problem shed ia usually a sign of an underlying problem. It is also fairly common for new snakes that are not used to their new surroundings to have a couple of bad sheds and this can often be the result of stress both psychological and environmental. This problem should sort itself out in a couple of sheds.
When a problem shed occurs you need to find out what is causing the problem and correct it.
Usually the problem is related to the snakes environment and humidity factors. It is best to check care sheets for the ideal humidity levels for your snake and adhere to them closely.
What to do if your snake has a bad shed.
Soak your snake in a bowl of warm water for about 15 minutes. The old skin should start to balloon out and youcan rub it off gently with your fingers. You must rub from the head to the tail. You can also make the wet snake travel through a warm moist towel in your hands to rub off the unshed skin.
Another trick is to put your snake into a pillow cover with a warm moist towel and leave it for an hour. With the snake moviny around inside the pillow cover it sometimes rubs the unshed skin off onto the rougher towel.
Take note of the Eye-caps, vent and tail as these are normally areas that will stay behind.
In the Event of an Eye cap remaining on the snake, Do NOT pull it off with tweezers. All too many times the snakes eye will be injured and infection will set in.
How to Remove Un Shed Eye Caps
1. Soak your snake in a warm bath for 15 minutes.
2. Apply mineral / sweet oil to the eyecap and leave for 24 hours. The eye cap should come off on its own in this period. If it does not then:
a) Wrap Scotch tape around your fingers, Sticky side out. Gently touch the tape to the eye and roll your fingers from the direction of the nose towards the tail. If that does not work:
b) Wait until the next shed. When the snake goes into the blue, soak the snake for 20 minutes, keep humidity levels high and mist the snake daily. When it starts shedding, physically help the snake by gently moving the skin back over both the eyes.
Do NOT use any sharp objects near the snakes eyes. The best way to make sure that the snake has shed its eye caps is to examine the shed skin.
